Multilayer heat insulating fabric



Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,588

G. H. KLINGBERG MULTILAYER HEAT INSULATING FABRIC Filed Dec. 16, 1959INVENTOR @5o/@65%. Aim/BERG ATTORNEY rates This invention relates to aheat insulating fabric and a method of making the same and has for anobject to provide a fabric of the above type having novel and improvedcharacteristics.

Another object is to provide a fabric of the above type composed of apair of woven plies bound together `by a dense layer of a pile yarnwhich entraps a layer of air and thus provide improved insulatingproperties.

Another object is to provide a fabric of the above type in which the twowoven plies are tightly and closely bound together by the pile yarns.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed.

in accordance with this invention the fabric comprises two woven pliesjoined by pile threads which extend between the plies and are boundtherein. Such a fabric can be woven, for example, on a standard twoshuttle velvet loom with the cutting knives omitted. In this improvedfabric the pile threads are composed of a synthetic continuous filamentyarn such as nylon, Daeron, Orion, Saran, dynel, `Vinyon or the likewhich has been previously crimped or bulked by any of the knownprocesses, as by crimping in a stuffer crimper, Ifalse twisting or thelike. Such yarns are crimped or bullied and permanently set in thebulked state. They are then wound into packages under tension and givena temporary straight set. While in straight form the yarns are woven aspile yarns between opposed backing plies to form a dense layer of yarnsor threads which hold the outer plies in closely spaced relationship.The fabric is then steamed or otherwise treated to relax the pile yarnsand cause them to resume the crimped form. in so doing the yarnscontract in length to pull the outer plies tightly together and thebulked or crimped form of the pile causes the pile to become closelymatted so as to form a layer which is so dense as to be practicallyimpervious to water. This feature is of importance when the fabric isused as insulation for arctic clothing since a tear in the outer `layerwill not cause the entire fabric to become soaked and useless asprotection.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in whicha specic embodiment has been shown for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a fabric embodying the invention withparts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 showingthe pile yarns in straight form as woven; and

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 showing the fabric after the pileyarns have been relaxed into crimped form.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the fabric is shown ascomprising outer plies 1 and 2 and an inner layer 3 of pile yarns. Theouter ply l is composed of filler yarns lit and chain warp yarns 11woven together in the usual manner. The second outer ply is composed offiller yarns 12 and chain warp yarns 13 interwoven in a similar manner.Pile yarns 14 are bound in the plies 1 and 2 and extend between the twoouter plies.

In the form shown pile yarns 14 are woven as chains over and under andover three filler yarns respectively in the outer ply 1, then pass tothe outer ply 2 3,013,588 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 ice where they arewoven as chains under and over and under three filler yarns 12respectively and return to the 'first ply. Other pile yarns, not shown,are similarly woven in fillerwise alignment with the first filler yarnsto form a dense row of pile extending across the fabric or, if desired,successive pile yarns may be displaced by one and twofiller yarnsrespectively so that the pile yarns are uniformly spaced throughout thefabric to form a dense uniform intermediate layer.

The fabric as woven is shown in FIG. 2. This fabric is then treated asby steaming to remove the temporary straight set of the pile yarn andcause the pile to relax into crimped form as shown in FIG. 3. While thecrimp has been shown for convenience as of the saw tooth type whichcould be produced in a stuffer crimpcr, it is obvious that any otherform of crimp such as that produced by false twisting, or by twisting,setting and untwisting, or by the methods of any of the examplesreferred to above, may be used. Such yarns are generally composed ofcontinuous filament nylon. Such material is particularly suited for usein clothing fabric.

While the fabric abo-ve described is particularly suited for insulationin cold weather clothing apparel and footwear, it may also be used as alter fabric and as a carrier in plastic fabrication.

What is claimed is:

l. A multilayer fabric having heat insulating properties, comprising apair of outer plies composed of interwoven iiller and chain yarns andpile yarns joining said outer plies and bound in and extending betweensaid plies, all of said pile yarns being under tension to hold the outerplies tightly together and being in the crimped state, said pile yarnsbeing uniformly and closely spaced to form a dense matted layer which issubstantially impervious to moisture.

2. A multilayer fabric having heatl insulating properties, comprising apair of outer plies composed of interwoven iiller and chain yarns andpile yarns joining said outer plies and bound in and extending betweensaid plies, all of said pile yarns being under tension to hold the outerplies tightly together and being in the crimpedv state, said pile yarnsbeing uniformly and closely spaced to form a dense matted layer which issubstantially impervious to moisture, at least said pile yarns beingcomposed of nylon.

3. The method of making a multilayer fabric having heat insulatingproperties which comprises weaving a pair of outer plies of fabrichaving interwoven ller and chain yarns together with pile yarns joiningsaid plies and bound therein, said pile yarns comprising continuousfilament synthetic material which has been crimped and then given atemporary straight set, then treating said fabric to remove thetemporary straight set under conditions to cause said pile yarns toresume their crimped state wherein the pile yarns are closely spaced andmatted and are placed under tension to hold the outer plies tightlytogether.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 in which said pile yarns are disposedin alignment in the llerwise direction.

5. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein at least the pile yarns arecomposed of nylon.

References Cited in the tile of this patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS2,719,542 Maclntyre Oct. 4, 1955 2,803,268 Maclntyre Aug. 20, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS 561,805 Great Britain June 6, 1944

